It’s the final practice exam before the real test. If D.C. United is to demonstrate it has what it takes to win the MLS Cup, it’s got to prove it can beat the Fire.
Last week’s loss to New England was more about missed chances than sluggish play, but Chicago has United’s number no matter how the team is doing. D.C. has lost twice in four meetings with the Fire this season, winning just once, and United has never beaten Chicago in the playoffs.
“They play destructive soccer, especially with us. They tackle hard, and they try to win the ball, and they look to dump it up to Nate [Jaqua] and let [Chris] Rolfe run off that,” said United defender Bobby Boswell. “Chris [Armas] is a great player, he battles in there, and he and Diego [Gutierrez] do a good job in the middle closing the holes. Whereas we play more constructive soccer, we try to build and play through that stuff. It’s a good battle.”
Chicago also has a size advantage in defenders C.J. Brown (6-foot, 185 pounds) and Tony Sanneh (6-2, 190), who close down the play of Jaime Moreno and Christian Gomez in the middle of the field, where they often work best with quick passes and darting runs.
It forces United coach Peter Nowak to remind his players to use the width of the field.
“We’ve got to open ourselves because when we try to play to much in the middle, that’s when it seems like we struggle,” said Moreno, who added that Sunday’s match isn’t about the result. “The only achievement we have is trying to find a way again to play the good soccer that weplayed in the beginning and just try to maintain that level for the playoffs.”
D.C. United (15-6-10) at Chicago Fire (12-11-8)
» When: Sunday, 5 p.m.
» Where: RFK Stadium
» TV: ESPN2
» Radio: WMET-1160 AM, WACA-1540 AM
